Here's a great place to get to know our leadership at Heritage. We've got mini bios of Eric Hartlen (Senior Pastor), Jason Austin (Pastor of Counseling and Discipleship), and Josh Wyatt (Pastor of Student Ministries).
Eric Hartlen
Senior Pastor
Place of Birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Places lived in: Bedford & Halifax, (Nova Scotia); Sarnia (Twice), Owen Sound, Etobicoke, Mississauga (twice) &Woodstock, (all in Ontario, Canada); Marshalltown, Iowa; Austin, Texas; St. Louis. Missouri; and Marboro, Holden, and Hubbardston, Mass.
Education: BA Social Sciences & Master’s Degree (Ministry)
Salvation Experience: I was raised in a religious environment, but there was no life in the Church I attended as a child. At age 16, I left all forms of religion. At age 29, my wife (Joan) of 7 years, attended a Bible study, where we heard of (and saw in others) a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Our marriage, and our lives, were filled with anxiety and anger, but we were beginning to realize that Christianity was not a religion, but a living relationship with a living Savior. On January 26, 1975, Joan & I gave our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Work/Ministry Experience:
- (1964-72) S.S. Kresge Co. (K-Mart) (management training and manager)
- (1972-92) Monsanto Chemical Co. Various positions in Administration and Human Resource management. Final position was Director, Organization Design and Development in World Headquarters, St. Louis, Missouri.
- (1992-2003) Vice-President, Human Resources, Metso Automation (Helsinki, Finland)
I’m Passionate About: Jesus Christ; Joan; my family; hockey; fitness;
Family Members:
Joan (wife)3 daughters:
- Laura Austin (husband Jason), 5 children: Jack, Kaitlin, Madeline, Cole, Brook.
- Janet Surette (husband Glen), 3 daughters: Taylor, Avery, Scarlet
- Leslie Bois (husband Simon) 2 children: Trinity, Jade
Hobbies: Fitness; Hockey, Kayaking; Biking
Favorite Books: Pursuit of Holiness (J. Bridges) Paths to Power (Tozer) In His image (Jim Berg) The Incomparable Christ (O. Sanders)
Contact: pastor at heritagebiblechapel.org
Jason Austin
Pastor of Counseling and Discipleship
Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington
Places lived in: Washington / California / Florida / Massachusetts
Education: Trinity College of Florida
Salvation Experience: Ephesians 2:1-9
Work/Ministry Experience: Prior to becoming a Pastor I worked 8 years the I.T. industry.
I’m Passionate About: the Lord Jesus Christ, my family, and church.
Family Members: Wife - Laura, children - Jack, Kate, Maddie, Cole, Brooke
Favorite Books: A Fight to the Death (Mack), A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Keller), Disciplines of a Godly Man (Hughes), Instruments in the Redeemers Hands (Tripp), The Attributes of God (Pink), Thoughts for Young Men (Ryle), and Today’s Gospel (Chantry)
Contact:jason at heritagebiblechapel.org
Josh Wyatt
Pastor of Student Ministries
Place of Birth: Marietta, Georgia
Places lived in: Georgia / Virginia / Massachusetts
Education: Liberty University, Liberty Theological Seminary
Salvation Experience: At the age of eight, as a beginning pianist, I saw a “real” pianist in concert at my family’s church. Throughout the concert he shared his testimony and God used him to speak to my heart. I knew that I couldn’t go home without dealing with what God was doing in my heart. After walking all the way out to my parent’s mini-van to go home I told my mom that I wanted to go speak with the pastor. We went back into the church building and I spoke with the pastor. He helped me understand Jesus and my need for him. That night I gave my life to Christ. I remember going home that night and reading my Bible, praying, and enjoying my first meaningful time with the Lord on the top bunk of my bunk bed.
Work/Ministry Experience:
- I’ve had too many part-time jobs, but here’s an attempt: Lawn care specialist (I cut grass for people on my dad’s riding lawnmower!); Southeastern Drag Strip Employee; Table buster; Lifeguard; Pizza boy; Archery equipment builder
- Ministry: Children’s ministry intern (1 summer); children’s camp founder/director (3 summers); traveled the up and down the east coast playing music, leading small groups, and preaching with a youth discipleship program called YouthQuest (weekends for 4 years); Campus Pastor Assistant (‘03-‘04); Heritage Bible Chapel summer intern for (summer ‘03); Heritage Bible Chapel Student Ministries Pastor (2004-Present).
I’m Passionate About: Seeing teenagers discover an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and people in His Church, discipleship and helping people find their personal ministry.
Family Members: I’ve been married to the beautiful Rebecca Wyatt (Becky) since August 6th of 2004. We have 2 sons, Isaiah (July 2006) and Luca (May 2008).
Hobbies: Reading, snowboarding, trail running, playing drums/guitar/keys, projects around our new house in Hubbardston.
Favorite Books: The Pursuit of God (Tozer), Man: The Dwelling Place of God (Tozer), Morning & Evening Devotions (Spurgeon), Hebrews, Mere Christianity and all of The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis), and Preaching the Cross (Dever, Duncan, Mohler, Mahaney).
Contact: josh at heritagebiblechapel.org